What's On
Last updated 31 August 2008
The Blue Channel Jazz Ensemble
Tuesday 30 September 2008 

 

  • William Davis - (trombone, vocals & band presenter)
  • Malcom Martin - (trumpet)
  • Paul Martin - (clarinet & vocals)
  • Graham "Iggy" Calloway - (banjo)
  • Ken Martin - (string bass & vocals)
  • Jill Martin - (percussion & washboard)

 

 

...the band retains its style of playing based on traditional New Orleans Jazz.  Our music is happy, infectious and audience orientated. We look forward to entertaining you...William Davis

 

 

William Davis:  William has been playing a "Tailgate Style" slide trombone since the 1960s.  He has played with numerous bands in and around Melbourne.  For seven years he led his own band, The Peninsula Dixieland Jazz Band with a seven year residency at the Hotel Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula.  Several years ago, accompanied by his artist wife Jill, also a band member, they moved to Tasmania and are now living at Midway Point.

Malcom Martin:  Originally from Chicago USA Malcom played with a variety of bands including Blues, Swing and Jazz.  During 2000 he moved to Australia taking up residence in Sydney where he performed with many bands.  The year 2006 saw Malcolm and his family moving to Hobart where he has taken up the traditional jazz style of trumpet with excellent success.  They now live at Wattle Grove in the Huon Valley.

Paul Martin:  Paul hails from the U.K. and was inspired by listening to jazz in London.  He, together with his family, left England bound for Australia in 1955 and shortly after arrival Paul purchased his first clarinet.  After a time in Brisbane he moved to Sydney and together with his brother formed The Black Opal Jazz Band which performed at the Sydney Jazz Club.  A long period playing with many top musicians in Melbourne and Sydney followed including a period with the famous Yarra Yarra Jazz Band.  After moving to Tasmania in the mid 90s Paul has been in great demand and has played with most Tasmanian jazz musicians including the Ian Pearce Quartet.

Graham "Iggy" Calloway:   Also originally from the U.K. but resident in Australia for over 40 years living in Sydney where he played with most well known Sydney bands including the New Zenith and Bill Haeslers' famous washboard band with whom he played for many years.  Accompanied by his wife Judith they moved to Hobart during 2006.  Iggy helped out with a number of performances with the original Blue Channel band.

Ken Martin:  Born in Drumcairn, N. Ireland in 1946 and came to Tasmania in 1968.  In the early seventies Ken helped form and toured the mainland with The Emu Strutters, a band based in N.W. Tasmania.  Moving to Hobart in 1978 Ken formed The Hobart Jazz Co., a band that plied the Derwent aboard the ferry Derwent Explorer for six years.  He joined the Pearce-Pickering Band in 1984. In recent years he joined the Ian Pearce Quartet with whom he plays regularly.  Ken is highly respected by the Hobart "Trad Jazz" fraternity.

Jill Davis:  Jill has played at many jazz conventions and had numerous performances with the Peninsula band at the Hotel Flinders.  The washboard is a difficult instrument to play well.  Jill has developed a great sense of rhythm and understanding of the music with sensitive light and shade.

 

When: 8:00PM    Where: Royal Oak Hotel
  Tuesday 30 September    Enquiries: (03) 6331 5346

 

Dinner Music: TBA

 

Laurie Lewis and the Jazzmanians
Tuesday 11 November  2008

 

A special extra concert has been arranged by the Launceston Jazz Club for Tuesday, November 11 to coincide with a visit to the area by renowned saxophonist Laurie Lewis, who will be on stage with the Jazzmanians for one night only. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular club supporters may be as surprised as was Laurie himself to learn that it's over ten years since his last appearance at the club, as many of that concert's attendees still have fond memories of the occasion.

 

When: 8:00PM    Where: Royal Oak Hotel
  Tuesday 11 November    Enquiries: (03) 6331 5346

 

Dinner Music: TBA

 

Nathan Liow Quintet (Melbourne)
Tuesday 25 November  2008

 

  • Nathan Liow - (piano)
  • Adam Spiegl - (bass)
  • Angus Tarnawsky - (drums)
  • Tom Jovanavic - (trumpet)
  • Holly Sharpe - (vocals)

 

Lead by pianist/composer Nathan Liow, the group formed while studying improvisation at the Victorian College of The Arts and for their show at the Launceston Jazz Club, will be mainly performing original works composed by various members of the ensemble. Having been together for a year, the group has performed at major Melbourne jazz establishments such as Bennett's Lane and the Paris Cat and is about to embark on an album on the back of winning the 2008 VCA Jazz Series Competition.

As a special note, drummer Angus Tarnawsky is an ex-pat Launcestonian, having previously won the Sue Cathcart Memorial Youth Jazz Award and more recently upon invitation, studied with John Riley at The Manhattan School Of Music in New York City.

The Nathan Liow Quintet is an outlet for the subtleties of what we call jazz these days. They twist and contort the improvised musical framework with devilish care end yet, it's as much akin to musical theatre as it is to the music of John Cage.

 

When: 8:00PM    Where: Royal Oak Hotel
  Tuesday 25 November    Enquiries: (03) 6331 5346

 

Dinner Music: TBA

 

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Jazz Around Town (Launceston)
Lunch 'n' Munch - Live Jazz at Lunchtime
Friday 12 September from midday (last performance)

 

With entertainment by the eight piece band 'SweetJazz' at the Ravenswood Over 50 Club 

 

For more information please ring (03) 6363 1408

                          

Centennial Hotel Jazz Festival 2008  - Cnr. Bathurst & Balfour Sts.
24th, 25th and 26th October

 

Friday 24th at 7:30pm - "Dixieland Express" featuring music from the mainstream and traditional eras.

Saturday 25th at 7:30pm - (one performance only) "New Melbourne Jazz Band" featuring the most in-demand players on the Australian jazz scene. Includes a jazz tribute to Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong interspersed with some latin and blues.

Sunday 26th at 2:00pm-5:00pm - Grand Finale: "Ross Challender Big Band". A 17 piece big band playing a repertoire from swing era favourites.  Guest vocalists include Denise Sam and Steve Hill.

 

Free admission. Bookings essential. Phone 6331 4957

 Major Jazz Events Happening Around the State
Jazz Festival at the Eastcoaster Resort Orford
 3rd, 4th and 5th October 2008

 

For more information please ring (03) 6249 2710

Clarence Jazz Festival 2009

 17 February to the 22 February 2009

 

The Clarence Jazz Festival is Tasmania's premier jazz festival featuring six days of concerts in a distinctive range of riverside settings. It is renowned among patrons for its great locations and unrivalled good vibes.

In addition to the regular series of twilight and evening concerts, the
Jazz Lounge (set in one of Tasmania's oldest surviving stone barns - c.1815), will take the music well into the night.

 

For more information please ring (03) 6245 8638

 

On the Radio
All Sundays: 8.00-11 pm
JAZZ SPECTRUM with John Doyer, Allen Young and Stephanie Thorne, City Park Radio, FM 103.7 MHz
Saturdays, Sundays: 5-7 pm
JAZZ TRACK with Mal Stanley, ABC Classic FM, 93.3 MHz
Monday to Friday: 6-9 PM
THE BREEZE (Broadcast nationally) and JAZZ AT SUNDOWN with John Diegan, Heart FM 95.7
Wednesdays: 10-11PM
THE BREEZE with John Diegan, WAY-FM, 105.3 MHz
Repeated on Sundays, 10-11 PM

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Related Links
Devonport Jazz in July - the hottest winter event of the year.

Devonport Jazz  promises talent and tunes too good to miss! Visit the website for details.

Visit the TasJazz website. It features Tasmanian Jazz news, musician resources and much more.
To enjoy some photos featuring Tasmania, please visit the Touring Tasmania.info website.